Ch52 – The Crown Prince’s death

Translator: Abo Dammen

Ying Zhili looked somewhat surprised, then curved his lips into a faint smile. “Your Highness has sought him repeatedly. Is there something urgent?” 

Jing Liansheng had originally been a little wary of Ying Zhili. But thinking of himself as a man who might soon die, and knowing Ying Zhili was also far removed from court, there was nothing left to hide.

Jing Liansheng said plainly, “He and I have a promise to fulfill.”

Ying Zhili uttered a soft “Oh,” then said, “I’m afraid that cannot be fulfilled.”

Jing Liansheng’s heart tightened. He raised his eyes to Ying Zhili. “He… is he still alive?” 

Ying Zhili’s smile deepened, his gaze laden with meaning. “Of course.”

At that moment, Jing Liansheng felt both relief and regret. “Then it is I who have broken the promise. I hope he will not blame me.”

Ying Zhili smiled. “He won’t.”

With that, Ying Zhili bowed deeply to Jing Liansheng and then turned to leave. Soon, his figure disappeared into the darkness. 

Jing Liansheng remained where he was, brow furrowed, a subtle, indescribable unease rising in his chest, as if some important detail had been overlooked. His gaze hardened slightly, thoughts swirling in his mind, yet he could not grasp that faint, elusive thread.

The guards nearby whispered cautiously, “Your Highness, the Emperor is still waiting. We must not delay.”

Only then did Jing Liansheng collect himself and follow the guards to meet the Emperor.

The Taichi Palace was adorned with glass lanterns. The flames flickered brightly, casting shadows across his sharp features, like a guillotine suspended but yet to fall. As he reached the front of the hall, the vast plaza was empty, save for a single figure standing proudly at the steps. 

Jing Liansheng recognized him. “The Priest.”

The Priest smiled at his words, a glimmer of pride flashing across his face. “Thanks to Your Highness, I have been promoted to Great Shaman, overseeing the Lotus Sect.”

In the Lotus Sect’s public structure, the most prominent positions were held by Wu Ying and the Saint Child. But in reality, these two resided deep within the palace, detached from worldly affairs, often holding titles in name only.

The one truly controlling everything behind the scenes, engaging in all the immoral, clandestine, and filthy deeds, was precisely this Priest. 

Moreover, the one who had long contended with Jing Liansheng openly and covertly in the court was also this person.

It seemed that after Ying Zhili resigned, this Priest had inherited the position of Great Shaman, becoming the undisputed leader of the Lotus Sect.

Jing Liansheng sneered. “When the tiger is gone from the mountain, the monkeys claim the crown.”

Priest… no, now he should be called Great Shaman. 

The Great Shaman also sneered. “Your Highness, I once respected you as the Crown Prince and held you in high regard. But you pressed too hard, showed no reverence to the Ancient Lotus, and proved impossible to trust. The Emperor could not bear to punish you directly, so it seems you must submit to justice yourself.”

Hearing this, Jing Liansheng was not surprised. He responded proudly, “If the ruler wishes his minister dead and if the father wishes his son to perish, one naturally cannot resist.”

The Great Shaman’s tense expression loosened slightly. “Since Your Highness is so reasonable, then this matter becomes mutually convenient.” He waved his hand, and a vial of poison flew from his hand in an arc, landing with a “crack” at Jing Liansheng’s feet.

“If the Emperor personally comes to kill me, I would naturally die,” Jing Liansheng said, stepping forward to crush the porcelain vial containing the poison. “You… are not worthy.” 

The Great Shaman coldly remarked,, “It seems Your Highness prefers the punishment to the toast.”

From the rear courtyard, a group of figures emerged, all masters of the Lotus Sect. Several of them Jing Liansheng recognized. They were among the few who had attempted to assassinate him before and escaped unscathed.

Jing Liansheng snickered. “Just you lot?”

At the Great Shaman’s command, the group surged forward like arrows released from a bow, surrounding Jing Liansheng. 

They were agile and swift, each deploying their supreme skills—fists, feet, blades, and swords—attacking Jing Liansheng from all directions.

Jing Liansheng remained unflinching. His movements were fluid, like twin hands of a dragon emerging from the sea. He blocked and parried the relentless attacks like an immovable rock.

Several masters were sent sprawling to the ground, unable to match his strength.

Seeing this, the Great Shaman realized that brute force would not suffice. Gritting his teeth, he called out, “Bring her!” 

At his command, the attackers retreated, leaving an open space.

Jing Liansheng narrowed his eyes. Amid the flickering light, two figures slowly appeared. It was the Captain of the Guards, holding a blade to the Empress’s neck, rendering her immobile.

Jing Liansheng froze.

Tears streamed down the Empress’s face. “Liansheng, don’t worry about me… Just run! Your martial skill surpasses all. If you want to run, no one can stop you!” 

Jing Liansheng gritted his teeth, a cold laugh escaping him. “The Emperor truly is heartless to this extent!”

There was no disappointment or surprise in his voice now, only icy mockery.

The Lotus Sect members, complacent, believing victory was assured, were shocked as Jing Liansheng’s figure flickered like a phantom, instantly closing in on the Guard Captain. He grasped the blade with one hand, pulling the Empress to his side with the other. Tears filled his eyes as he whispered, “Mother!”

The Empress, equally tearful, voice trembling. “My child!” 

Before the words could fall, a flash of cold steel came from her own hand! A short blade had plunged deep into Jing Liansheng’s chest.

He felt an icy pain in his chest. Looking down, the half-length silver blade had pierced him fully. Blood gushed along the blade, staining his robe instantly, also splattering onto the Empress’s jade bracelet, the birthday gift Jing Liansheng had given her last year.

The blood spread across the jade, like a crimson plum blooming in winter, gradually forming a stark streak, as if infusing the cold stone with a pulse of life.

That exquisite, warm jade bracelet had now become a blood-streaked talisman. 

What a pity, what a pity.

The Empress’s hand shook violently. She released the dagger and staggered back a step. Tears poured from her eyes, her voice hoarse and broken. “Mother… had no choice.”

Her gaze wavered, unable to meet Jing Liansheng’s eyes.

Jing Liansheng stared at his mother, thousands of words unspoken, reduced to a low murmur. “Your son… has been unfilial…” 

Before his words fell, his body wavered slightly, then collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut. Every trace of life was drained in that moment.

Seeing Jing Liansheng fall, the Lotus Sect members rejoiced, crowding around him. The blade had been coated with the Sect’s secret poison, which was deadly even with a mere drop of blood.

But lying there, Jing Liansheng’s eyes remained open, like a bird trapped in a cage, staring at the sky.

The Great Shaman’s cold voice cut through, “Jing Liansheng is far too strong. A single strike may not suffice. Better to add a few more cuts for certainty.” 

The followers, already harboring deep hatred for him, eagerly obeyed. They raised their swords and blades, striking at Jing Liansheng’s motionless body. Amid the chaos of steel, the once formidable Crown Prince lay unmoving, allowing them to vent their wrath. The attackers were delighted, their faces twisted with grim satisfaction.

The Empress covered her face, crying, yet dared not look directly, nor intervene.

The Captain of the Guards supported her. “Your Majesty, you’ve done well. The Emperor will reward you. Now, you must be tired. Return for rest.”

The Empress nodded slightly, her voice choking. “Alright… let’s go.” 

Her steps were unsteady, as if she could collapse at any moment. With the Captain of the Guards supporting her, she left the scene of blood and carnage.

After the Empress departed, the others remained immersed in their frenzy, venting every ounce of rage. Fists and feet, blades and swords, struck mercilessly at Jing Liansheng’s body. The Crown Prince’s ceremonial robe was slashed in several places under the relentless assault, revealing the mottled clothing beneath. Seeing this, the Great Shaman’s feral grin suddenly froze.

He raised his hand and shouted, “Stop!”

The attackers, though confused, immediately ceased their actions. Their eyes turned in unison toward the Great Shaman. 

The Great Shaman took a deep breath, his expression grave. He stepped forward slowly and, with the tip of his sword, parted Jing Liansheng’s tattered outer robe, revealing the crimson garment beneath.

This red robe was not dyed with Jing Liansheng’s blood… It was soaked with the blood of the fallen soldiers from Jing Liansheng’s battlefields.

The robe was saturated in scarlet, the depth of its color unimaginable without countless soldiers’ sacrifices. Jing Liansheng had not set foot on a battlefield for years. This robe… had it been prepared long ago?

Had Jing Liansheng… long ago readied his own death? 

Even more terrifying than this was that the blood-soaked robe was densely covered in intricate spells.

“The Thousand-Soul Blood Robe… slain by one’s closest kin…” The Great Shaman raised his head to the full moon, staggering backward a step. “Midnight… full moon…”

Before he could finish, Jing Liansheng’s eyes, which had never closed, suddenly glowed blood-red.

In an instant, a chilling wind surged. The runes etched into his robe shimmered with a ghostly green phosphorescence. The air was instantly thick with the stench of blood and decay, sending shivers down the spine. 

The Great Shaman’s face went pale as paper, his voice nearly hoarse. “Step back! He has become a Great Calamity!”

But it was already too late.

Jing Liansheng’s body slowly rose from the ground. As he opened his eyes, they were blood-red and black, as if capable of draining all life from the world. The Great Shaman was shocked. He hastily formed a hand seal to cast a spell, but before he could complete it, his entire arm was covered in blood-red veins.

The veins, like living vines, spread rapidly up to his shoulder. His arm suddenly shattered, blood gushing like a fountain. 

Jing Liansheng lifted his gaze lightly. His blood-red eyes reflected the terror on the Lotus Sect disciples’ faces. Knowing he could not win, the Great Shaman immediately knelt, begging, “Crown Prince, spare me!”

Seeing the Great Shaman kneel, the disciples also realized resistance was futile. They all fell to their knees. “Crown Prince—”

But before their pleas could fully escape, a blood blossom erupted from their foreheads. Their lives ended instantly.

“When last year you used three hundred boys and girls to refine pills,” Jing Liansheng’s gaze swept coldly, “did you ever hear their pleas?” 

The Emperor was still unaware of the events outside. Speaking to an attendant, he said, “Ah! This Liansheng, though disagreeable in character, is after all my only son. I hope he could be sensible and die on his own, sparing the Empress. If so, perhaps we can even preserve a whole body so our father-son bond would be fulfilled.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a chill swept through the hall. A cold wind blew across the chamber.

The Emperor looked up in shock and saw Jing Liansheng appear before him, dripping with blood. Blood streamed down his robes, pooling into a horrifying puddle on the floor.

The Emperor was utterly terrified. His body went limp, collapsing to the ground. The attendants, equally panicked, pressed close to him, trembling, unsure what to do. 

The Emperor shouted frantically, “Someone! Help!”

His voice echoed through the empty hall like a stone sinking in the sea, met with no response.

Fear overtook him. “You… what… what are you going to do?”

“The ruler wishes his minister dead, the father wishes his son perished,” Jing Liansheng said calmly. “Since Your Majesty wants me dead, I have already become a ghost.” 

His words were matter-of-fact, yet they sent the Emperor’s knees weak, forcing him to collapse in submission.

Jing Liansheng furrowed his brow and stepped aside, glancing at the attendants. “Still not going to help His Majesty up?”

The attendants’ legs were trembling. But hearing Jing Liansheng’s command, they forced themselves to act, shakily extending their hands to lift the Emperor.

Jing Liansheng looked at his father. “You need not kneel to me. You are my father.” 

The Emperor: No… no… no… You are the big daddy now.